USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 2 > Part 58
USA > Maryland > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 2 > Part 58
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ment and welfare of his county and State. On March 17, 1832, he was elected one of the Visitors and Governors of Washington College, and subsequently in his leisure hours filled the position of Lecturer on Law in that venerable institution. On April 1, 1850, he was elected a Vestryman of Chester Protestant Episcopal Parish. In early life he was a Whig; when that party disbanded in 1856 he be- came a constitutional supporter of the national Democratic party. Ile married in 1830 Martha J. Laird, who died March 8, 1845, leaving the following children, viz.,. Catharine Julia Pearce, Charlotte. A. Lennox Pearce ( Mrs. Crisfield, the gifted poetess), and James Alfred Pearce, who worthily bears the honored name of his distinguished father. Mr. Pearce married again, March 22, 1847, Matilda C. Ringgold, daughter of James Ringgold, and died December 20, 1862, leaving his widow, with one daughter, Mary C. Pearce, and his other children, surviving. lle was a gentleman of great and varied culture, and a statesman of enlarged conservative views. lle was not a politician in the usual acceptation of the word, and yet he was one of the most successful pub- lic men in Maryland during the period of his life. Honors and offices waited upon him. His success was due entirely to his own individual merit, his unsullied integrity and eapacity for public affairs, and the appreciation of his cmi- nent qualities by his fellow-citizens. His death was regarded by men of all parties as a loss to the country, and deplored as a national calamity. He was reputed to be one of the wisest and safest statesmen in the Senate of the United States ; and the minds of the people were turning toward him as a proper candidate for the Presidency, when death removed him from the councils of the nation.
B LACK, MAJOR GEORGE, was born in Londonderry, and came to Kent County, Maryland, about the year 1740 with his father, James Black, and settled at Fairfields, an estate which has never been sold by his descendants. He married in 1770 Margaret Wallace, daughter of Andrew and Eleanor Wallace. He was noted as an ardent advocate of colonial independence, and for his generous contributions of food and clothing to the Continental army. During the gloomy period of the encampment at Valley Forge Robert Morris depended largely upon his efforts and those of Colonel Isaae Perkins to keep the starving soldiers supplied with food. Ile always commanded the military escorts of the supply trains, and repeatedly with singular success evaded the British troops lying in wait. Hle'performed this haz- ardous duty with a fidelity and promptness that merited and received the applause and thanks of Washington. His son, Dr. James Black, of Fairfields, born January 4, 1772, married, December 12, 1798, Margaret Wilson, daughter of John and Mary (Perkins) Wilson, and died October 27,
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1804, leaving two children, viz., Susan Wilson Black, born January 17, 18oo, who married, December 22, 1829, Colonel Alexander Baird Hanson, of Woodbury, Kent County, Maryland, and died October 24, 1864, in Fred- erick, Maryland, and Major John Gustavus Black, a memoir of whom is contained in this volume.
RACY, HON. JOHN S., Farmer and Legislator, was born in Howard County, Maryland, in 1829. He was educated partly in his native county and partly in the city of Baltimore. After serving as 40 clerk in a drygoods house in Baltimore for eleven years, he engaged in farming. Ile served as County Com- missioner of Howard County from 1868 to 1872, and then was elected Sheriff. He was elected to the House of Dele- gates in 1877 on the Democratic ticket.
B LACK, JAMES, came from Londonderry to Kent County, Maryland, about 1740. He was of Scotch- Irish descent and a Presbyterian. His father dis- tinguished himself in the defence of Londonderry when it was besieged by the Roman Catholics in 1698. Ilis children were James Black; William Black, whose descendants are living in the Carolinas; Martha Black, who married Andrew Kerr; George Black, who married Margaret Wallace; and two daughters, one of whom married John Kilgour, of Pennsylvania. Ilis eldest son, James Black, married, May 11, 1762, Jennette Wallace, daughter of Andrew and Eleanor Wallace, and by his third wife, Mary Rice, was the father of Judge James Rice Black, the grandfather of Hon. James Black Groome, Ex-Gov- ernor of Maryland, now United States Senator. Mary Wallace, who married Hon. Thomas Ward Veazey, Gov- ernor of Maryland, 1835-1838, was his, granddaughter by his first wife, Jennette Wallace.
ASIIIELL, NICHOLAS LEKKE, Physician and Sur- geon, was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, July 1, 1814. Ile was the youngest son of Cap- tain Henry and Mary (Leeke) Dashiell, a me- moir of whom is contained in this volume. Dr. Dashiell was educated in the Department of Arts and Sci- ences of the University of Maryland, then called Baltimore College, and at St. Mary's College, In 1835 he entered the office of Professor Nathan R. Smith as a student, and graduated M.D. from the Medical University of Mary- land, in March, 1837. Ile at once commenced the prac- tice of medicine at his present residence, the house built by his father, on the corner of Broadway and Alice Ann Street, where he has ever since resided. He soon acquired a very extensive practice. Ile is a general practitioner,
but has always been especially skilful in surgery. On July 19, 1852, Governor Ligon appointed him Surgeon of the Lafayette Light Dragoons, a volunteer troop of horse, a popular military organization of that time. He still pre- serves the uniform and elegant sword he wore at the parades, Hle was also appointed Surgeon of the Eagle Artillery, an excellent company, of which, however, the larger part sym- pathized with the Confederate cause, and at the time of the war they were disbanded by the Government, and their arms and accoutrements taken possession of. The sentiments of the company when first expressed to Dr. Dashiell in the excitement of this period were a great surprise to him. Ile had hastened to meet with them with no other thought than to stand by his country and the flag for which his father had fought, and which he had himself in his oath of office sworn to defend. Dr. Dashiell is one of the oldest and most prominent members of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, having united with that society June 7, 1847. In early life he united with the Masonic frater- nity, and has always taken a deep interest in the prosperity of the Order. In it he has been advanced to a high degree, and has held many offices of trust and honor. Congress gave his father, Captain Henry Dashiell, a grant of two hundred and forty acres of land for his services in the war of 1812-14. This now valuable property is located in Franklin and Cedar counties, Iowa, and is owned by Dr. Dashiell. IIe also owns considerable real estate in the city of Baltimore, and valuable and extensive farms in Dorchester and Garrett counties. He was married, De- cember 20, 1855, to Louisa Turpin Wright, daughter of Captain Turpin and Mary II. (Harris) Wright, of Sussex County, Delaware. Her grandfather, Major Benton Harris, was an officer in the war of 1812. Miss Wright graduated at Deer Park Hall, Newark, Delaware, in 1850. Dr. and Mrs. Dashiell have six children, of whom five are living : Henry, Nicholas Leeke, Mary Dashiell, who died at the age of four, George Washington, Mary Leeke, and Louisa T. Dr. Dashiell is a gentleman of high character, and is greatly respected by his professional brethren and the community in which he resides, He is a man of strong individuality, and is very popular with all classes.
STEINER, HON. LEWIS HENRY, M.D., State Senator of Maryland, was born in Frederick City, Mary- land, in 1827. His parents were Christian and Rebecca (Weltzheimer) Steiner. IIis family is of German origin, and one of the oldest in this country. His great-grandfather, John Steiner, ¿was born about the year 1750 in Frederick County, within three miles of the present residence of Dr. Steiner. He commanded a company of militia against the Indians in 1775. The doctor was graduated by and received his degree of Artium Baccalaureus from Marshall College, Mercers- burg, Pennsylvania, in 1846, and Medicine Doctor at the
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University of Pennsylvania in 1849. In the same year he commenced the practice of his profession at Frederick. In 1852 he removed to Baltimore and began to lecture on chemistry and toxicology in the private medical institute established by Di. J. R. W. Dunbar. From that tune until 1861 he was Professor of Chemistry and Natural History in Columbia College, and of Chemistry and Phar- macy in the National Medical College at Washington, District of Columbia. He was Lecturer on Applied Chem- istry at the Medical Institute, and Lecturer on Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in the College of St. James, and Professor of Chemistry in the Medical College of Pharmacy, and held other analogous positions. In 1861 Dr. Steiner returned to Frederick City and renewed his residence there. At the outbreak of the war he took an active in- terest in the Union cause, assisted in raising troops, and as soon as the Sanitary Commission was organized he was appointed Chief Inspector in the Army of the Potomac; In this service he labored indefatigably until the close of the war. He took entire charge of its benevolent work ; saved the soldiers as much as possible from exposure and discomfort, and cared for them in every way in his power. When slavery was abolished and the Freedman's Bureau organized, he interested himself in the establishment of colored schools all over Maryland, and served as President of the School Board for nearly three years. All this ser- vice he performed without compensation, laying it all gladly as an offering on the altar of his country. Since ISGS he has mainly occupied himself with literary and scientific pursuits. Ilis contributions to the literature and science of the country have been constant since 1851, having published a large number of books and pamphlets, and made valuable translations from the German. Ile has delivered orations and addresses, contributed to our best periodicals, and been Assistant Editor of the American Medical Monthly since January, 1858. He is one of the Vice. Presidents of the American Missionary Association, a member of the American Medical Association, a corres- ponding member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, of the Maryland Academy of Sciences, of the Maryland Historical Society, and of the New Haven Colony Historical Society. Ile is also a member of the American Public Health Association, of which he was Vice-President for one year, and is a member of the Na- tional Academy of Medicine, of which he has been chosen presiding officer. Hle is a Fellow of the Maryland Medi- cal and Chirurgical Faculty, and of the American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science, and a trustee of several collegiate and literary institutions. In 1876 he was a member of the Cincinnati Republican Convention, which nominated Mr. Hayes for the Presidency of the United States. Ile was elected to the State Senate in 1871 by the Republican party of Frederick County, having a majority of three hundred and eighty-nine votes. Four years later, on the expiration of his term, he was re-elected by a ma-
jority of four hundred and thirty six over Ousterbridge Ilorsey, Esq., the Democratic candidate. In 1866 Dr. Steiner married Miss Sarah Spencer, daughter of Judge Ralph D. Smith, of Guilford, Connecticut. They had six children, five of whom are living.
UGHEY, THOMAS COOK, Attorney-at-law, Cum- berland, Maryland, was born July 21, 1839, at Centreville, Queen Anne's County, Maryland. HIe is the only surviving child of his parents, His father was Thomas Hughey, Esq., long known as an upright and honorable citizen of Centreville, who died in 1869 in the fifty-ninth year of his age. Ilis mother was Miss Ann Kent Cook, daughter of Colonel Thomas Bay- nard Cook, and among the oldest and most respected fami- lies of that county. She is still living, advanced in years, and loved and honored by all who know her. Thomas Cook Hughey began his education at a private school, sub- sequently became a pupil at the Centreville Academy, from whence, after completing his preparatory studies, he was sent to Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. From this college he returned to his home in 1857, and at eighteen years of age entered as a student in the law office of Cook & IIopper, of Centreville, the senior mem- ber of the firm being his mother's brother, a gentleman of great worth, an honor to his profession, and who had served for many years in the Senate of Maryland. After completing his studies Mr. Hughey was admitted to the bar, in August, 1860, and entered on the practice of his profession under the most flattering auspices, but the war breaking out in 1861 his patriotism induced him to devote himself, heart and soul, to what he regarded as the duty of the hour for him-the service of his imperilled country. In 1861, in the face of threatened social ostracism and con- trary to the urgent wishes of his friends, most of whom were on the other side, he organized and equipped, partly out of his own funds, the battalion known as the " Maryland Zouaves," who did good service in the cause of the Union. By his enthusiastic patriotism Mr. Hughey was brought to the favorable notice and confidence of such men as Governor Ilicks, Hon, Il. Winter Davis, Major-General Dix, and other prominent gentlemen, to whose memory he yet clings with affectionate attachment. A severe illness, of nine months' duration, forbade his services in the field, and greatly to his regret this rheumatic affection prevented his future participation in the active services of the war, either with his battalion or otherwise. In 1863 Mr. Hughey was united in marriage to Miss S. Lizzie Carter, an estimable and cultivated lady of his native county .? Two children were the fruit of this marriage, only one of whom, a daughter, still survives. In the same year ( 1863) his health becoming improved Mr. Hughey was nominated on the Republican ticket for State's Attorney of Queen Anne's County, and was elected by a handsome majority. Enter- ing on the duties of his office he rapidly rose to popular
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notice and distinction as a lawyer. Several important and complicated murder cases, among them the celebrated Paca murder trial, occurring during his administration of the office, he won favorable regard from all by his astuteness and the ability with which he discharged his duty as an officer of the State, largely augmenting his reputation as a criminal lawyer. But though thus employed at the bar of his native county, he never ceased to put forth the fullest measure of effort for the success of the Union cause and party. Although not twenty-five years of age he exerted a wide influence on the Eastern and Western Shores, and his eloquent speeches in each political canvass evinced his unabated ardor in his country's interests, From 1860 to 1868 he was in every State Republican convention, serv- ing also during the same period as a member of the State Central Committee. Political life and success for his political friends and party, rather than for himself, at this time seemed to absorb in a large degree all his thoughts and aspirations. In 1867 he removed to Cumberland, Alleghany County, Maryland, believing that rapidly growing city to offer a wider sphere of usefulness, influ- ence, and success. Here he engaged in the practice of law, and for some years continued in active political life, winning many friends and receiving frequent eulogy from the press, both as a lawyer and eloquent public speaker. In 1874 he became the head of the law firm of Hughey, Brace & Richmond in that city, and a large and successful practice came into the hands of this firin. In 1877, from threatened injury to his health, he withdrew from that firm, and shortly thereafter began for himself such a prac- tice as he could attend to without strain on his enfeebled system. This individual practice soon became not only satisfactory but large and lucrative. In 1879, in conse- quence of increasing trouble to his nervous system and for the purpose of secking, in change of place, a tonic and remedial help, he temporarily removed to Washington, D. C. Mr. Hughey is a member in high standing of the Knights of Pythias, Heptasophs, and other secret orders. He is the Senior Past Grand Dictator of the Grand Lodge of Maryland of the " Knights of Honor," and also a mem- ber of the " Supreme Lodge of the World." In March, IS78, he was elected as Representative to the " Supreme Lodge of the World," attended its session held in Nash- ville, Tennessee, in May of that year, and in the following March was again chosen as Supreme Representative to the same body, which meets in Boston, Massachusetts, in May, 1879. Mr. Hughey is of slender frame, yet graceful in his movements, and very popular with his friends. Though modest he is possessed of large will-power; is of a kindly and generous nature, urbane in his deportment, and strictly temperate in his habits. He is endowed richly as to talent, and as well at the bar as on the hustings is a brilliant speaker. Should his health permit the exertion needed, his friends anticipate for him a brilliant, happy, and suc- cessful future.
"MITII, BENJAMIN EVERETT, Editor of the Worcester County Shield, residing at Snow Hill, Maryland, was born in Georgetown, Kent County, April 4, 1823, being the second son of the late Rev. Purnell Fletcher and Mary Wright ( Everett) Smith. He was educated principally by private teachers employed by his parents at his home, and by his father. From his earliest reading the Bible interested him more than any other book, and as he grew older he purposed to prepare himself for the Episcopal ministry, but after some time spent in the study of divinity, he became tinctured with Universalism, of the falsity of which, however, he was finally convinced, but thought it was then too late to resume his studies, a decision he has since greatly regretted. For two years he devoted himself to the study of the law in Philadelphia, but becoming dissatisfied with the profession he gave up his studies when just ready to be admitted to the bar. . Previously to this, in 1839, while undecided what profes- sion he should choose, he obtained his father's consent to learn the printing business, and proceeded in the fall of that year to Philadelphia, where, binding himself simply by his word, he served out an apprenticeship of three years. Having reached his majority in 1844 he sold some real estate which had been left him in Maryland, and bought a large printing office in the above city, which he conducted with profit until he was induced to become the publisher of unpopular though useful books and of an unsuccessful newspaper. In consequence his affairs be- came embarrassed, and in 1845 he was forced to sell his printing office, reserving only a press and type. With this he proceeded to Snow Hill, where his brother had that year entered upon the practice of law and desired also to start a newspaper. Accordingly they commenced the issue . of the Worcester Shield, Mr. Benjamin E. Smith taking charge of it for the first five months. After starting it successfully he left it in the hands of his brother, and in the fall of 1846 went to Baltimore, where he commenced the publication of a short-lived election paper. After the elec- tion of President Taylor in 1848 he went to Washington, and remained there as correspondent of a number of papers till November, 1849, when he was appointed Consul to the Turk's and Caicos Islands, belonging to the Bahamas, where he remained ten years, fulfilling the duties of his office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people. In Janu- ary, 1851, he was there united at the English church with Elizabeth S. Hayward, of Bermuda, niece of the Secretary of the Turk's Island Colony. Leaving the Islands in 1859, he published a newspaper in New York with success, until he took in a partner with more capital than judgment, and the paper was finally abandoned. In 1861 he bought the Shield of his brother in Snow Hill, who was desirous of devoting his whole time to his profession. This paper has from that time been conducted by Mr. B. E. Smith with ability and success. He was in 1867 elected as a Delegate to the Legislature from Worcester County, and in the ses-
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sion of 1868 was Chairman of the Committee on Printing and one of the Committee on Public Instruction. In politics Mr. Smith claims to be independent, though he has always been Democratic in principle. During the war he upheld the Union and the Constitution, notwithstanding he was in 1863 imprisoned for awhile in Fort Mellenry through some misinterpretation of his editorials. In 1844 he was made an Odd Fellow in Philadelphia Lodge, No. 13, and in 1849 was made a Mason in St. John's Lodge, No. 11, Washington city. While residing at the Islands he was for two years Master of Turk's Island Lodge, No. 930, and was afterwards made Grand Junior Warden of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Bahamas. Also, while at the Islands, he frequently visited the Spanish port of St. Domingo, and since 1850 has been a strong advocate of the annexation of that part of the island. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had ten children, seven sons and three daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are now living, all residing with their parents at Snow Hill.
B LACK, MAJOR JOHN GUSTAVUS, was born, Decem- ber 31, 1802, at Fairfields, Kent County, Mary- land. He was the son of Dr. James and Mar- garet (Wilson) Black, and the grandson of Major . George Black, a sketch of whom is contained in this volume. His mother, Mrs. Margaret ( Wilson) Black, was the daughter of John and Mary (Perkins) Wilson. John Wilson was the son of George and Margaret (Hall) Wil- son, of Castle Cairy, Kent County, Maryland, and the grandson of Hon. George and Mary (Kennard) Wilson, of Broad Oak, Kent County, Maryland. Hon. George Wil- son represented Kent County in the Legislature of Mary- land from 1728 to 1747, and died in 1748. IIe was the son of James Wilson, of Old Field Point, Kent County, Maryland, a native of Scotland, who died, at an advanced age, in 1732. Mrs. Mary (Perkins) Wilson was the daughter of Thomas and Ann (Hanson) Perkins, of the White House, Kent County. Thomas Perkins was born March 12, 1720, in Kent County, Maryland. He was the son of Daniel Perkins, from Wales, who married in May, 1715, Susanna Starton. Mrs. Ann ( Ilanson) Perkins was the daughter of Judge Frederick Ilanson, of Kent County, and the granddaughter of Colonel Hans Hanson, of Kim- bolton, who was lincally descended, through his grand- father, Colonel Hanson, of the Swedish Army, from Roger de Rastrick, who was seated at Kastrick, in the Parish of Halifax, York County, England, in the year 1251. After receiving a liberal education Major Black devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He married, June 4, 1833, Alphonsa Cummins, of Smyrna, Delaware, and lived for a number of years at his farm and ancestral home, Fairfields, in Kent County, where his four children were born, viz., James Edgar Black, Susan Cummins Black, Margaret Wil- son Black, and Eugenia Black. Margaret Wilson Black
married, November 3, 1870, Dr. George S. Culbreth, United States Navy, who died November 24, 1877, lost at sea off Kitty Hawk, coast of North Carolina, in the United States sloop of war lluron, leaving his wife and daughter, Susan Black Culbreth. Mrs. Alphonsa (Cummins) Black was the danghter of John and Susan ( Wilson) Cummins, of Smyrna, Delaware, who was related to Right Rev. George D. Cum- mins, D.I., of the Reformed Episcopal Church, and was the granddaughter of Daniel Cummins. Mrs. Susan ( Wilson) Cummins was the daughter of George and Susan ( Ilolli- day) Wilson. George Wilson was the son of George and Margaret (ITall) Wilson, of Castle Cairy, previously men- tioned. Mrs. Susan (Holliday) Wilson was the daughter of Robert and Phoebe ( Morris) Holliday. Mrs. Phoebe (Morris) Holliday was the daughter of James and Mar- garet (Cook) Morris. James Morris was the son of An- thony Morris, who was born, August 23, 1651, at St. Dun- .. stan's, Stepney, London, married January 30, 1676, Mary Jones, and died October 24, 1721. Major Black removed to Smyrna, Delaware, in 1845, where he spent the remain- der of his life, beloved and respected by all who knew him. During the Mexican war he was appointed a Major by Hon. William Temple, Governor of Delaware, but the cares of a young family and of a large landed estate con- strained him to decline. In his habits and tastes he was very domestic, and found his chief source of happiness in the home circle. His filial piety and devotion were noticea- ble traits in his character. When he died he was the owner of Fairfields, Kent County, Maryland, the estate upon which his first paternal American ancestor, James Black, settled in 1740, and which has to the present day never been sold. Hle also owned " White House," in Kent County, the es- tate where Washington was hospitably entertained by Mr. John Wilson in 1784, and which has been in his possession and of his paternal ancestors for more than a century and a half. He was quiet and unobtrusive in his manner, genial, sympathetic, and generous. In all his business transac- tions he was scrupulously honest,-a man of his word,-of unblemished honor and unsullied integrity, and exemplary Christian character. Ile died after a brief illness at half past eight o'clock, Wednesday morning, June 5, 1878, at home, and in the presence of his devoted wife and four children. His remains repose in St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Cemetery, near Smyrna, Delaware. He had been a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church for many years, and was at one time a vestryman of Shrews- bury Parish, Kent County, Maryland.
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